Special Note About Tutorials

Tutorials are optional on the day of the examination. It is very important, however, to use the tutorial to check for headphone volume even if you skip all other parts of the tutorials.

Quick Tip

After installation, if you do not see folder(s) on your desktop, please press F5 to refresh your desktop or click on your start button and select All Programs. Folder(s) with USMLE Practice Materials will be on this list.

Contact Us

If you have problems using the practice materials, feel free to contact us.

Email: usmletech@nbme.org


Practice Materials Instructions

About the Software

Purpose of the Practice Materials

These materials are intended to help orient individuals registered to take Step 1, Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) and Clinical Skills (CS), and Step 3 of the USMLE. If you are not registered, please read information on how to apply. All applicants must review and become familiar with the USMLE Bulletin of Information before completing applications for USMLE Step 1, Step 2 (CK and CS), or Step 3.

Software Description

The software you install has over 100 practice test items and a software tutorial for each Step examination. Some practice items may include multimedia files, such as video or audio clips. The Step 3 materials also contain sample cases for the Primum Computer-based Case Simulations (CCS) portion of the exam. All Step 3 applicants must review the Primum CCS tutorial and practice with all the practice cases well in advance of the testing day to have a thorough understanding of how Primum CCS works.

Special Note:

Tutorials are optional on the day of the examination. It is very important, however, to use the tutorial to check for headphone volume even if you skip all other parts of the tutorials.

System and Software Requirements

  • Windows® XP, Vista® or Windows 7 with administrator privileges
  • Intel® Pentium® or higher processor recommended
  • 1 GHz or higher
  • 512 MB RAM or higher
  • 100 MB available on the hard drive
  • 8x or higher CD-ROM drive (if you received the materials on CD)
  • Mouse
  • Microsoft® Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher
  • Windows® Media Player
  • Adobe® Reader®
  • Adobe® Flash® Player, 8.0 or higher
  • Color display set to 24-Bit or True Color
  • Resolution set to 1024 x 768 (or higher)

Please note: MacIntosh (Mac) and Linux are not supported.

All USMLE orientation materials are available for download from the Download Menu.

Intalling the Software

Using files from the website

The Download Menu indicates which portions of the practice materials must be downloaded. The remaining links can be viewed or used online. All downloadable files are zipped.

Downloading from the website:

  1. From the main menu, click the link for the practice software or video you want to download.
  2. At the file download prompt, choose 'save'.
  3. Make a note of the name of the file you are downloading.
  4. In the dialog box that appears, you must designate a location on your computer to store this file. Choose "Desktop" or make a note of where this file is being saved.
  5. You can close your Internet browser when finished.

Unzipping downloaded files:

  1. If you use Vista or Windows 7, click here for help unzipping the downloaded file.
  2. If you use Windows XP, click here for help unzipping the downloaded file.
  3. The Video does not need to be installed; it can be watched once it is unzipped. (please see "Watching the Step 2 CS Video" under Using the Software).

Installing practice materials:

  1. If you have any previous version of the USMLE practice materials installed you may be asked to remove them before installing the 2011 practice materials.
  2. During installation, if you see a menu asking if you want "modify, repair or remove" components, this means that the installation program has detected a previous installation. Select Remove to uninstall any component currently on your machine and then run the installation program again to install the component you want to use.
  3. Navigate to the unzipped version of the file (it will end in .exe).
  4. Double click on the file to begin the installation.
  5. Depending on your computer, you may see a warning message.
  6. If you see a security warning "authenticode signature not found," click 'Yes' to continue the installation.
  7. If you see a message that says that "the publisher could not be verified," click 'Run' to continue the installation.
  8. On-screen prompts will guide you through the installation.

When installation is complete you should see entries on your program menu and one or more folders on your desktop for running the tutorials and practice test materials. After installation, if you do not see folder(s) on your desktop please click on your Start button and select All Programs. Folder(s) that start with "USMLE practice materials" will be on this list.

Using the Software

Running the Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 3 Tutorials, Practice Multiple-Choice Questions ("Test Items"), and Primum® Computer-based Case Simulations (CCS)

To view items you must set your screen resolution to 1024 x 768 or higher. Please use your manual or system's help if you need assistance changing these settings.

Once your resolution is set, open a USMLE folder on your desktop and double click on the practice software that you want to use.You may also access the USMLE folder(s) by clicking on your Start button and selecting All Programs. The MCQ items are found in the NBME Test Delivery Software. For Step 3, the Primum Computer-based Case Simulations are also run from the NBME Test Delivery Software.

Watching the Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) Video

The video does not need to be installed. Once you have downloaded and unzipped the file, double click on it to play it. The video is provided in Windows Media format, which works with Windows Media Player which can be obtained from the Microsoft® website.

Reading the Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) Content Description and General Information Booklet and the Sample Patient Notes

You must use Adobe® Reader®, which can be installed on your computer for free, to view and print the booklet.

Technical Support

If you have problems that you cannot resolve, review frequently asked questions or call (215) 590-9700 between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM (US Eastern Standard Time) Monday through Friday, for technical support.

Copyright Information

The United States Medical Licensing Examination® is a joint program of the Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States, Inc. (FSMB) and the National Board of Medical Examiners® (NBME®). The orientation package includes proprietary information and materials that are licensed by the NBME or owned and copyrighted by the FSMB and the NBME.

As to the materials that are owned and copyrighted by the NBME and FSMB: Copyright © 1998-2012 the Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States, Inc. and the National Board of Medical Examiners, except for the following: Copyright © 2006-2012 National Board of Medical Examiners as to the computer program test driver. Primum® Computer-based Case Simulation Software Version 8.2, Copyright © 1988-2012 the National Board of Medical Examiners. Runtime library portions of the software included with permission from Versant Corporation, Copyright © 1996. All rights reserved. Portions of Step 2 CS orientation materials reproduced with permission from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG®) Clinical Skills Assessment (CSA®) Candidate Orientation Manual, Copyright © 2002 by the ECFMG. Microsoft® PowerPoint® Viewer, included in this software, is a product of Microsoft® Corporation. Permission to use this software and the other materials installed with it is limited to exam preparation or practice by individuals who are registered to take the examinations, and further reproduction, distribution, transmission, or other uses are prohibited without permission from the copyright holders.